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FDA Approves Leeches As Medical Devices
Associated Press ^ | June 29, 2004 | AP

Posted on 06/29/2004 10:24:16 AM PDT by Michael.SF.

The government has lent its seal of approval to a marketing an age-old medical device -- leeches.

The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that Ricarimpex SAS, a French firm, is the first company to request and receive FDA clearance to market the bloodsucking aquatic animals as medical devices....

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: democrats; equals; fda; leeches; medicine
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I thought they were talking about Democrats, not low life mindless slugs that suck the blood and strength from a host environment. But then again, I repeat myself.
1 posted on 06/29/2004 10:24:17 AM PDT by Michael.SF.
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To: Michael.SF.

I think I'll pass.

2 posted on 06/29/2004 10:27:01 AM PDT by Rebelbase ( aka Gassybrowneyedbum)
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To: Michael.SF.

"trial attorneys?"


3 posted on 06/29/2004 10:28:04 AM PDT by ken5050 (We've looked for WMD in Iraq for LESS time than Hillary looked for the Rose Law firm billing records)
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To: Rebelbase


As long as it ain't maggots....*shudder*


4 posted on 06/29/2004 10:28:37 AM PDT by SouthernFreebird
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To: Michael.SF.

If those suckers really work, why not?


5 posted on 06/29/2004 10:28:44 AM PDT by cripplecreek (you tell em i'm commin.... and hells commin with me.)
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To: Rebelbase

FDA Approves Lobotomy As Medical Devices
That's what I call progress....


6 posted on 06/29/2004 10:28:45 AM PDT by traumer
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To: Michael.SF.
Another take on "Hillary Health Care"?
7 posted on 06/29/2004 10:29:30 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter
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To: Michael.SF.

I read that they can help increase blood flow - eg. reattached body parts.


8 posted on 06/29/2004 10:30:11 AM PDT by mathluv (Protect my grandchildren's future. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04.)
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To: Michael.SF.

Geez, I thought it already was approved. A couple of years ago I defended a case where a guy got his ponytail caught in a driveshaft and was scalped. The doctors used leeches to try to re-attach the scalp. It didn't work.


9 posted on 06/29/2004 10:30:48 AM PDT by ChuckShick (He's clerking for me...)
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To: Rebelbase

Ah, brings back memories of us kids swimming in the creek.


10 posted on 06/29/2004 10:31:53 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn
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To: SouthernFreebird

Maggots only eat dead flesh and are about as good as it gets for cleaning wounds.

With that said, if they ever want to use maggots on me they're going to have to put me under first.


11 posted on 06/29/2004 10:32:17 AM PDT by cripplecreek (you tell em i'm commin.... and hells commin with me.)
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To: Michael.SF.
a French firm

Is there more to say?

12 posted on 06/29/2004 10:32:29 AM PDT by bmwcyle (<a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/" target="_blank">miserable failure)
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To: SouthernFreebird
Maggot therapy
Today, more than 200 hospitals in the U.S. and Europe have prescribed maggots to treat patients with infections from injuries like pressure ulcers ("bed sores"), leg and foot ulcers, stab wounds, and post-surgical wounds that won't heal. In fact, about 5,000 laboratory grown and disinfected (microorganism-free) maggots are delivered to hospitals across the U.S. every week!

13 posted on 06/29/2004 10:32:42 AM PDT by george wythe
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To: Michael.SF.

Reminds me the FEAR FACTOR !


14 posted on 06/29/2004 10:33:21 AM PDT by traumer
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To: Michael.SF.

Clearly a case of illegal fundraining by Democrats.....


15 posted on 06/29/2004 10:34:09 AM PDT by tracer
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To: Michael.SF.

Clearly a case of illegal fundraining by Democrats.....


16 posted on 06/29/2004 10:34:10 AM PDT by tracer
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To: bmwcyle

Hell, I use them for fishing.


17 posted on 06/29/2004 10:34:49 AM PDT by Iberian
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To: Michael.SF.

What possible good can a lawyer do as a 'medical device'?


18 posted on 06/29/2004 10:34:59 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Spirit of '76 bttt!)
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FDA reports that leeches can help heal skin grafts by removing blood pooled under the graft and restore blood circulation in blocked veins by removing pooled blood.

Leeches are good for you

In 1994, a woman's scalp was ripped off when her hair was yanked into moving machinery. Doctors performing micro-surgery at the University of Southern California reattached the scalp, but one area swelled with congested blood. They applied leeches, one at a time for eight days, to suck up stagnant blood. Eventually new capillaries, or tiny blood vessels, formed in the scalp wound, leading to healing circulation.

Leech saliva is also full of other important curative chemicals. One is called hirudin, which keeps blood from clotting. Scientists have devised a method to genetically engineer hirudin, which they hope to prescribe as an alternative treatment for unclogging blood vessels during heart surgery.


19 posted on 06/29/2004 10:35:22 AM PDT by george wythe
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To: Michael.SF.
FDA approves Caladrius Bird as a medical diagnostic device.

A little bloodletting and some boar's vomit, and he'll be fine!

20 posted on 06/29/2004 10:38:24 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Warm & sour lemonade because life didn't give ice & sugar.)
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